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Minor League Player of the Day – Devin Shines (Ogden) - 2 for 5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's. Options for this award were obviously limited again with just two games being played, and Shines just edged out Jerry Sands because Sands made two errors in the field. Shines recently returned to action after missing over a month of the Pioneer League season with a foot injury, but in his limited action with Ogden he is hitting very well with a .311 average and a .943 OPS.
AAA – The Isotopes fell behind early and weren't able to make up enough ground over the rest of the contest as they lost to the Storm Chasers (Royals) 8 - 4 in the opening game of their playoff series. Albuquerque simply couldn't stop Baseball America minor league player of the year Wil Myers as he went a perfect 2 for 2 against them with a 3-run homer, a double, and 2 walks. To complicate things, Topes' starter Fernando Nieve left the game after just two innings with a strained forearm, although he was struggling anyways to the tune of 3 runs allowed. Will Savage picked up in relief and permitted 2 more runs to score, while Erick Threets really let the game get away in the 8th as he allowed 3 more crucial insurance runs. The only reliever to do his job was Blake Johnson as he hurled 3 shutout innings in the middle of the game. Despite the loss the Albuquerque offense connected on a trio of homers, with the big 2-run job coming off the bat of Jerry Sands who momentarily brought his club to within two. Josh Fields followed with a solo shot to get his team even closer, but right after that was when Threets allowed all the insurance runs. Josh Bard had the 3rd homer earlier in the game, while Matt Angle's double was the only other extra base hit.
AA – Playoffs start Thursday
HiA – Season over
LoA – Season over
Rookie Ogden – The Raptors finally lost on Wednesday as they fell to the Rockies 5 - 4 in the second to last game of the regular season. Miguel Sulbaran made his first Pioneer League start and did OK as the 18 year old allowed 5 hits and 3 runs over 5 frames while striking out 4 and walking 1. Jason West and Riley Welch both worked a single inning and gave up a run and two hits each, while Derek Cone worked a scoreless 8th. Ogden had thoughts of a comeback win as they scored single runs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th, but unfortunately they came up just short. Two of those late runs came on solo homers as Corey Seager and Devin Shines both took the ball deep, and Shines also doubled earlier in the game to finish with two 2 runs batted in. Delvis Morales drove in the other run with a RBI single, while Tae-Hyeok Nam finished the night 3 for 4. Finally, it should be noted that Malcolm Holland swiped two more bases and now has the Raptor franchise record for stolen bases in a season with 44.
Rookie Arizona – Season over
DSL – Season over
Coming up – The Isotopes continue their playoff series on Thursday, and they will send Stephen Fife to the mound. The Lookouts postseason begins with Matt Magill on the hill, while Jonathan Martinez will start the regular season finale for the Raptors.
Minor League Transactions – AAA: Red Patterson was the pitcher that joined the Isotopes for the playoffs, not Jon Michael Redding as I head previously reported. AA: As we all know Paco Rodriguez was promoted to the Dodgers, and to complicate things it looks as if the Red Sox have asked to have Rubby De La Rosa shut down as he was removed from the roster. Therefore the Lookouts made some adjustments by adding pitchers Yimi Garcia and 2012 3rd rounder Onelki Garcia to the team.
Albuquerque Isotopes Box Score (AAA)
Ogden Raptors Box Score (Rookie)
Minor League Central - Daily Dodger Recap